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In Reply to: I humbly nominate... posted by Rob Thomas on June 21, 2003 at 09:56:49:
Thanks.Still a little higher in price than what I perceive a lot of the clamor is for, but I will check them out.
Shahinian's lowest is now $1,200, and that is a tough price for an LS3/5A homage, as you can get the Harbeth LS3/5A successor for the same money.
And that gives you a $2,500 system, minimum, and what I have been hearing people say is that that is not "budget."
Or am I not hearing what has been said?
In any event, this has been a good non-confrontational way to clear some air at least...
(Cue up Quicksilver Messenger Service's "Fresh AIr"--the single most over-reverb'ed track in history.)
Immer essen,
John
Follow Ups:
Roy is building and selling more speakers and is at maximum capacity for quality. I requested some review samples myself...but customers take front seats.I am on a Holding pattern for ETM with them.
Audio AsylumŽ Signature line: Hearing is believing.
Thanks.How many times have I said--and I do get the sense that a lot of people at AA think it is just a post hoc rationalization--that I often get blanked on review requests for gear from small companies when there is a buzz on about the gear?
I did not start this thread in bad faith, but golly if I had wanted to set up people for an "I told you so" I could not have done a better job.
But trust me, I am neither that smart nor that calculating.
But it does seem that JA does know how to do his job.
Cordially,
John
.
Audio AsylumŽ Signature line: Hearing is believing.
Not to be ultra-picky, but:Green Mountain Audio's website has no content, just placeholder from the ISP.
No email link to a company address.
And the toll-free number I got from Soundstage's review is not working.
Now, if I audition the speaker and it is nice, and I recommend it, what are my OBLIGATIONS TO THE SUBSCRIBER about letting them know that there are indications that GMA is not fully operational at the level that, oh, say, Musical Fidelity is?
What if there is a problem with a speaker and the company has gone from tenuous to folded? Would not a reader feel let down by me?
That is a serious question and it deserves serious, respectful, non-confrontation consideration.
This ain't JA's first rodeo, and it ain't JM's either.
JA has solid good-faith reasons for his rules, and those reasons aren't to make his job easier, but rather to protect the SUBSCRIBERS from the vicissitudes of small companies' courses.
Cordially,
John
Some companies, despite how incredible their gear is, aren't ready to be discovered by a mass market publication, and may never be.So, shhhhh, keep 'em between us.
I too, am suprised there's not some better semblance of a website.
gma@pcisys.net is Mr. Johnson's email I believe.While $780 isn't quite "budget", I feel, as I believe you have propounded, the speaker would be the place to invest in most system cost allocation scenarios.
Hopefully these speakers would survive beyond the other entry-level equipment being upgraded.
For a startup firm, a website certainly increases initial sales and the chances for success, but cannot assure longevity nor customer service. Those come only from spending whatever time is necessary on perfecting the products, and serving customers.We are not a startup- thus our sales do not depend on the presence of a website, but come from 30+ dealers (most of whom have carried us for many years), international distribution, ten years of editors' reviews in BFS, S'phile, AIG, Soundstage, Home Theater Magazine, and by TAS staff, and from showing/playing at every wholesale trade show since 1991.
For us, daily communications are not about "what we make", but address questions on equipment, acoustics and application, with our existing customers and dealers. Posting a lit-only website we knew would only overload this service, so we decided long ago our site must also provide these answers- and so maybe even reduce the time we spend on the phone.
Working at our "limits of quality"? Yes. Pouring cast marble for cabinetry is a pain. And designing truly minimum-phase systems is a lengthy process.
Does that mean we ship only a few products? No.
More than 4 tons of the new Europas have already crossed the workbenches, 35,000 lbs of Diamantes, several tons each of the Imago, our subwoofers and center-channel speakers, and more than 40,000 lbs of the Continuum 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 models. No rejects. No failures. No "B" stock. No used speakers on the internet. No blow-it-out dealers.
Just several thousand happy customers.With the continuing increase in sales, especially of the new Europa, and with the upcoming intro of the C-3, we have had to put off every reviewer request, unfortunately, for still a few more weeks. We shall be in touch with all.
Also, my best estimate for a website publication time is now "sometime in July"- there is not that much work left to do. I hope all will find it useful.
Best regards,
Roy Johnson
Green Mountain Audio
310 South 25th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719 636-2500
gma@pcisys.netPS: the Europa, since Feb 1st, sells for $880/pair- used to be $780- Thanks, Rob! And for the inexpensive system, many customers recommend budget components or used gear with the Europas, as they are such an easy load to drive- 30-40 Watts into 8 Ohms is enough for all but the serious rockers (the Europa is a 4 Ohm speaker). They, like me, feel that the Europa's lack of phase shift keeps it from distorting the component's distortion. Distorted distortion is not an additive process- it is exponential and thus responsible for much of the "synergy" discussions.
PPS: To Mr. Marks' concerns about-
"Now, if I audition the speaker and it is nice, and I recommend it, what are my OBLIGATIONS TO THE SUBSCRIBER about letting them know that there are indications that GMA is not fully operational at the level that, oh, say, Musical Fidelity is?"
You have that obligation, undoubtably- it's responsible reportage to mention the "indications".
And you'd want to remind them that Audio Alchemy, Sonic Frontiers, Wadia, EAD, CEC, Micro Seiki, Phase Linear, Hartley, IMF, KLH, HH Scott, Fisher, MFSL, Thorens, Tandberg, Dokorder, Ohm, Genesis, SAE, Genesis/EPI/Epicure, ADS/Braun, NEAR, N.E.W., Akai, Ariston, Oracle, the original Von Schweikert and Eggleston firms, Threshold, and countless others were all quite large- at one time at least as "fully operational" as Musical Fidelity.
You'd remind them how size, advertising and reviews are not sure indicators of longevity; how a small firm might more easily withstand sudden changes in the economy because of their lower fixed costs.
Perhaps share your definition of what "fully operational" means in this crazy world of audio. We think it means being "fully responsive" to existing customers' questions and needs, and building quality, performance and value into the products, more than how many salespeople we employ or how many reviews and dealers we set up.
"What if there is a problem with a speaker and the company has gone from tenuous to folded? Would not a reader feel let down by me?"Absolutely, but ONLY if you had not shared what you knew, right?
But printing "indications of tenuousness" does not make them into knowledge. In fact, to us it feels like a cheap shot (even though I'm quite sure you did not mean it that way), as you made no effort as a reporter to contact any magazine editor, or the CES/T.H.E. Show staffs for our phone number- it's probably in most internet phone directories too. A search of my own "Green Mountain" postings at Audiogon, here at AA, and over at The Vinyl Engine would also show our contact info straight away.
We'd give you the references to ascertain our "tenuousness" (tenacity?)- it's only proper to do so, as that is a fair request. I expect you'd find we are still moving forward.
"That is a serious question and it deserves serious, respectful, non-confrontation consideration."Yes it does, but I had to confront you with how you could have found our 10yr-established phone number. Sorry, I wish you would have. It's a big world, with a lot of manufacturers for you to know, and lots of reporters for us to know, so this is going to happen. A website from us will help ease any confusion.
Best of luck with all your writings.Sincerely,
Roy
nt
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